Fire Destroys Stanford, IL, Auto Body Shop

The aftermath of the Jan. 1 fire at John Williams Auto Body/J & K Auto Body near Stanford, IL, can be seen Jan 2. Lewis Marien, The Pantagraph

Investigators still don't know what caused a Jan. 1 fire that destroyed an auto body repair shop near Stanford, IL.

Allin Township Fire Chief Brian Foley said investigators were at John Williams Auto Body/J & K Auto Body near the intersection of McLean County roads 800 North and 150 East in rural Stanford, about a mile east of Olympia High School.

The Allin Township Fire Protection District, based in Stanford, was called to the scene around 8 p.m. Jan. 1.

"The fire was already through the roof when we arrived and became fully engulfed very quickly," said Foley. "We were in a defensive mode from the very start."

One firefighter was transported from the scene to an area hospital for minor injuries, he said.

The owners could not be reached for comment Jan. 2.

Foley said a damage estimate was not yet available.

"The building and its contents were a total loss," he said. "They are still trying to figure that out."